In our Catholic understanding, the Lord comes to us in three different ways. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Lord has come to us in history, He comes to us in mystery, and He comes to us in majesty. There’s the three advents – the three arrivals – of our Lord that we contemplate during this beautiful season of Advent.

What to call it? “Contradictions”? “Paradoxes”? How about “creative tensions”? The latter might be the more descriptive, if a bit stale, term.

Here’s what I’m talking about : During quite a few of the sessions of the Synod on the Family here in Rome, I almost feel as if I’m on a retreat, or a day of recollection. That’s because so many perceptive and enlightening comments arise that get me thinking…

What often intrigues me is that many of the observations seem, at first glance, to be at odds with one another, so I ask myself; “Are we contradicting each other?”…

As we have just happily witnessed, the world is fixed on the papacy–thanks in part to Pope Francis! I am happy to announce that today, Our Sunday Visitor, made my new book on the three most recent popes available for free download. A short excerpt:

… I would like to look at our three most recent popes, who have been particularly compelling agents of Christ. These three popes have been genuine gifts to the Church in bringing Jesus to the world. This is hardly to suggest that there were not other popes throughout history who serve…